<p>What are the differences in Vassar and Middlebury. Daughter liked both. Will probably major in studio arts and something else...anthropology, maybe???
Socially, how are the two schools different?</p>
<p>They're both very nice schools with an excellence in academics. Socially, they're a little different, and they also have different academic strengths. I've visted both, applied to both, been rejected by both, but also love both, each for a different reason.</p>
<p>Middlebury is more of the typical, top tier liberal arts college, with a new england prestige flavor. Socially diverse, but perhaps preppier than Vassar. Strong international studies program, foreign language program, and environmental science program. Excellent study abroad options. Beautiful campus. Renowned institution with a successful, warm, and friendly student body.</p>
<p>Vassar is also a very prestigious liberal arts college that enjoys a convenient proximity to Mahattan and other attractions. In terms of the student body, Vassar is perhaps a tad more liberal, with very artsy, coffeehouse-intellectual types of kids. Lots of intelligent hipsters. Excellent in all humanities, but particularly so in art history, visual art, psychology, english, etc. Vassar, however, also boasts similar study abroad programs to Middlebury and has a variety of language options. Very friendly student body.</p>
<p>Both schools are decidedly liberal. Vassar is more fine art/humanity art oriented than Midd, while Midd is more international studies/foreign language oriented than Vassar. Kids at Vassar are artsy, while there is a slightly broader spectrum at Midd, from polo shirts to birkenstocks. Both of these excellent schools, however, have very, very friendly kids who look beyond such misconceptions and are very hard working and intelligent.</p>
<p>I personally liked Vassar more (and applied ED) because I, like your daughter, like visual arts and was more humanities focused. However, I wanted to major in International Affairs, which Midd is more known for, but I liked the fact that Vassar had all I wanted in a school; a nice location, excellent fine arts program that was appreciated and loved by all students, a stunning campus, and majors in International Affairs and Japanese. </p>
<p>So, I ultimately like Vassar more, and given your daughter's interests, I think she may like Vassar more too. But both are fantastic.</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply. That puts my mind at ease. She is a senior who is accepted at Vassar and we have sent our enrollment money to them. I worried that the student population wasn't friendly (not sure why...just a feeling of stand offishness when we visited last fall) and that they would not be involved in activities - she likes hiking and rock climbing, dancing, movies, etc. She isn't a birenstock, vegan but definitely not preppy either. And, i do know she is concerned about the male/female ratio. She has a lot of male friends.<br>
But sounds like she will be ok.
I worry too much!</p>
<p>Middlebury folk are the friendliest out of all the college communities I've visited.
They are also, without question, the outdoor enthusiasts of LACs.</p>
<p>You'll find prepsters at every top national university and every top liberal arts college.
It's just that Midd's prepsters are different: so amicable, charismatic, and open.
There's nothing wrong with coming from a wealthy background.</p>
<p>Excerpt from Wikipedia, Judgment and Sensibility: Religion and Stratification:</p>
<p>In its early years, Vassar was associated with the social elite of the Protestant establishment. E. Digby Baltzell writes that "upper-class WASP families ... educated their children at ... colleges such as Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Vassar, and Smith among other elite colleges."</p>
<p>Of course, Vassar has changed profoundly, but everyone seems to have a revulsion for preppiness.</p>
<p>In regard to "offishness," a common criticism of Vassar seems to be that everyone is trying to one-up each other in regard to uniqueness, in dress, mannerisms, quirkiness, etc. Also, "arsty" implies a majority's interest in dance, theatre, music, etc. And, Vassar is disproportionately female, due to its tradition, of course.</p>
<p>Both are awesome schools, I'm simply arguing on Middlebury's behalf.</p>
<p>I personally haven't found Vassar students to be very standoffish in my first year here. Sure, there are individuals who are, well, less-than-nice, but the majority of the campus is quite friendly. As for the comment about Vassar students trying to "one-up each other in regard to uniqueness in dress, mannerisms, quirkiness"... once again, I've found this to be a lot more rumor than reality. Sure, there are a small minority of people who take pleasure in trying to be "the MOST unique," but those people are really few and far between. Most students do have distinct quirks and personality, but they don't flaunt this in an obnoxious, "let me show you how individualistic I can be" sort of way.</p>
<p>Now, to get a bit more back on the topic of this thread :). Congratulations to your daughter on getting into two fine institutions and on making the choice she did... I'm sure she would have been happy at either school, but assure you that Vassar was an excellent choice, and one which she won't regret!</p>
<p>Yes, I agree that Vassar is an excellent choice as well.
For all the reasons you may have, for all the reasons that are.
Also, my best friend is going there, so ... =P</p>
<p>Faced with the same choice I decided on Vassar - and no regrets. As to your question about the differences between the two, I think it can be best defined by NY versus New Engand. Manhattan has a HUGE gravitational pull on Vassar. There is an urban feeling / buzz on campus (not due to Poughkeepsie) that reflects students' awareness of what's happening in the city. Hence, I think, all the comments / stereotypes you read here in CC about 'coffehouse hipster intellectuals in black.' That, of course, is not the reality - but there's enough of it to make a mark. Middlebury, to me, seemed rooted in Vermont soil - in the best way. Students appeared friendly, green, involved in the community...and inclined to outdoorsy activity. In the end, however, it felt a little too insular and cozy for me (as well as a little preppy). Having grown up in Vermont I guess I felt it was time to move on. Vassar certainly broadened my horizons and prepared me well for transition in to real life. However, real life for too many Vassar students and graduates only happens somewhere between Tribeca and the Upper West Side.</p>